When: December3 (7.30pm), 6 (7pm), 7 (4pm), 11 (7.30pm), 13 (11am-4pm and 7pm), 17 (7.30pm), 18 (7pm), 19 (2pm), 20 (11am-4pm and 7pm), 23 (6pm), 24 (6pm) and 26 (3pm) 2014

Gloucester Cathedral was used as a filming location in the first, second and sixth ‘Harry Potter’ films so we highly recommended taking a turn around the cloisters (or corridors of Hogwarts) once you’re done carolling. As well as a jam-packed schedule of concerts, one in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, another for Meningitis Now, the cathedral has two days in December when its choir performs 30 minutes of carols on the hour from 11am until 4pm. Time your visit for Saturday December 13 to coincide with the bustling Christmas market held in the cloisters.

Some of Gloucester’s concerts are ticketed; to book visit www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk

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When: December 5 and 6 (both 7pm)

As the second-largest Gothic cathedral in northern Europe, you couldn’t ask for a more awe-inspiring setting for a carol concert than York Minster. With the cathedral’s choir singing at the top of their lungs, accompanied by the Yorkshire Volunteers Band on the 5th and the York Railway Institute Band on the 6th, ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ will never have sounded so heavenly. 

Tickets £12, to book visit www.yorkminster.org

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When: December 12 and 19 (both 8pm)

With director Stephen Darlington at its helm, Christ Church’s carol concerts are some of the country’s most enchanting. Tickets in the transept always sell out, but a live video relay is being set up this year so the choristers will be visible on screens in previously unsighted areas. It’s worth going even if you’re tucked behind a pillar to simply bask in their brilliance.

Tickets from £15; to book visit www.musicatoxford.com

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When: November 25 (6.30pm) 2014

The curtains have closed on ‘Downton Abbey’ until Christmas Day, but Isobel Crawley (and fellow cast members, yet-to-be-announced) will host an evening of festive readings at St George’s Church in Hanover Square, W1. We know that Isobel (all right, Penelope Wilton) has excellent elocution from the dressing-down she gave the Dowager Countess of Grantham on… oh the occasions are too numerous to count. As well as her note-perfect recital, there will be a performance by the Salvation Army’s choir and an opportunity to grill the cast for the Christmas special spoilers. The ticket price might seem hefty at £45, but all money goes to Tomorrow’s People, a national employment charity, plus we’d pay twice that to see the soft side of Maggie Smith’s sparring partner.

Tickets £45;, to book visit www.eventbrite.co.uk

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When:November 26 (7pm),  December
13 and 20 (both 7pm) 2014

The sand-coloured city of Bath truly excels itself come Christmas. Surrounded by Christmas stalls from late November, Bath Abbey ensures market-goers stay at their merriest with its free shoppers’ carols on November 29, and December 6 and 13 at 1pm until 4pm. The ticketed carol concert on 26th November is in aid of the National Osteoporosis Society and features the Bath Male Choir and Bath Chorus, while the Saturday services on 13th and 20th December include performances of Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ and plenty of audience participation.

For more information, visit www.bathabbey.org

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When: December 9, 12 (both 2pm), 14 (3.15pm), 21 and 22 (both 7pm) 2014

You’ve still got plenty of time to fine tune those high notes and practise your warbling before Salisbury Cathedral’s roster of carol services commences. It’s worth buying a ticket for its recorded concert on December 14, which airs on BBC Wiltshire on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Salisbury’s Cathedral is joining forces with the Royal Artillery Band for the occasion so expect tingling eardrums by the end.  

Some of Salisbury's concerts are ticketed; to book visit www.salisburycathedral.org.uk  

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When: December 6 (11am and 2pm) and 7 (2pm) 2014

Given its position in the north of the country, Durham Cathedral might well be blessed with a blanket of snow come Christmas. The cathedral opens its doors for three free concerts of traditional carols and Christmassy readings. If you’re braving the cold for a weekend trip, don’t miss the gifts and crafts marquee on Palace Green, the reindeer display and the enchanting St Nicholas Children’s Lantern Procession, which twinkles its way from Market Square up to the cathedral's close.

For more information, visit www.durhamchristmasfestival.com

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When: December 3 (6.30pm), 9 (7pm), 11 (6.30pm), 16 (7pm), 18 (7pm), 19 (5pm), 20 (11am), 21 (3.15pm), 23 (4pm), 24 (4pm and 11.30pm), 25 (11am and 3.15pm), 26 and 27 (both 5pm) 2014

With its domed ceiling making voices sound even more angelic, St Paul’s Cathedral must be the most acoustically optimised carolling spot in London. There are 15 carol concerts in December (ranging from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ to the Barnardo’s Christmas Concert with three children’s choirs and Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’) and tickets are mostly free.

For more information, visit www.stpauls.co.uk

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When: December 16 (7pm), 23 (6pm) and 24 (4pm)

All ye faithful carollers should gather at Westminster Abbey (which welcomes 12,000 people each year to its trio of Christmas services). Tickets for its Christmas concert, featuring the Abbey’s famous choir, on 16th December can be purchased from the Barbican box office. For the cathedral’s service of lessons and carols, on December 23 and 24, tickets are free but booking is required.

For more information, visit westminster-abbey.org

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When: December 24 (3pm) 2014

King’s College’s Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is in a league of its own. Not only is it broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 (a tradition since 1928), opening with ‘Once In Royal David’s City and featuring a newly commissioned carol each year, but you can expect an orderly queue to start forming at the college's hallowed entrance well before 9am.

For more information, visit www.kings.cam.ac.uk

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When: November 30 (6pm), December 5 (7pm), 9 (2pm), 13 (11.30am), 22 (7.30pm), 23 and 24 (both 6pm) 2014

Used as a film location for ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’, ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ and ‘The King’s Speech’ and home to an impressive stained glass museum, Ely isn’t your average cathedral. Its Christmas calendar features an Advent procession and guest soprano Laura Wright, culminating in its magnificent Hark the Herald concert on the 22nd. As the cathedral can only accommodate 1,500 carollers at once, it holds services on December 23 and 24 to avoid any having a silent night.

Some of Ely’s concerts are ticketed; to book visit www.elycathedral.org

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When: December 15 (7.30pm), 17 (7.30pm), 18 (7.30pm), 19 (7.30pm), 23 (6pm) and 24 (3.30pm) 2014

If you’re after a spot of carolling in the West Country, Bristol Cathedral excels in choral entertainment. There’s the famous Cabot Choir’s performance of Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’, as well as Above & Beyond’s Christmas Star Concert, raising money for its Golden Gift Appeal. Its Carols by Candlelight event is well worth booking this year as its reading will be performed by Jack Ashton, the rather dashing curate in ‘Call the Midwife’.  

Most of Bristol's concerts are ticketed; to book visit bristol-cathedral.co.uk

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